KUALA LUMPUR: There needs to be cooperation between all agencies to combat illegal e-waste processing factories, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, in a statement, said that they are committed to ensuring that Malaysia does not become a transit hub or disposal ground for e-waste from developed countries through initiatives with the Department of Environment (DOE).
"The joint efforts remain crucial in strengthening environmental law enforcement and protecting Malaysia from illegal e-waste dumping.
"This initiative aligns with the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal which mandates prior approval for any cross-border movement of scheduled waste, including e-waste, before transit, transshipment, import or export activities can take place.
"In order to control the movement of e-waste through the country's main entrance, the Basel Convention states that e-waste that crosses borders must go through the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure.
"The importation of e-waste is regulated through conditions such as e-waste listed under List A (Annex 8) and List B (Annex 9), which must follow the PIC procedure.
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"Any non-compliance is classified as an illegal shipment under Article 9 of the Basel Convention which states that if the exporting country fails to obtain approval from the importing country for scheduled waste shipments, the exporter must take the waste back within 30 days," he said in the statement on Tuesday (Feb 18).
Nik Nazmi said strict actions will be taken against any importer who fails comply with the rules and laws that have been set.
Under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974, which states that any unauthorised disposal of scheduled waste, whether on land or in Malaysian waters, or the allowing the transit of e-waste without approval, is an offence punishable by a fine of up to RM10mil and imprisonment of up to five years upon conviction," he said.
In the meantime, Nik Nazmi said action has been taken following media reports about an illegal e-waste processing factory that was involved in illegal processing of ammunition casings. "Enforcement action under the Environmental Quality Act 1974 has led to investigations at the premises, which was found to be violating multiple regulations, including, Section 18, for operating an off-site scheduled waste storage facility without a valid license from DOE.
"As well as Section 34A for failure to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to DOE and Section 34B for unauthorised disposal of scheduled waste without prior approval from the Director-General of Environment," he said.
Nik Nazmi said the factory in question has been sealed the factory’s production equipment under Section 38(1)(a) for operating without proper control measures.
"Investigation papers are being prepared for prosecution under the same act," he said.
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He then said that as of Dec 31, 2024, DOE records show that enforcement actions have been taken against 44 illegal e-waste factories, shutting down eight.
"The remaining 36 factories are undergoing legal proceedings under the Environmental Quality Act.
"I would like to commend the cooperation of various enforcement agencies, including the police, Customs, the General Operations Force, and the Air Operations Force for tackling the cross-border movement of e-waste into Malaysia.
"We remains steadfast in eradicating illegal e-waste processing and ensuring that environmental regulations are strictly enforced to safeguard public health and ecological sustainability," he said.
It was reported on Saturday (Feb 15) that a “bullet recycling plant” was uncovered in a police raid on an illegal e-waste processing factory in Kuala Langat, Selangor.
Internal Security and Public Order Department deputy director Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi said the factory, which had been operating for two years, was recycling e-waste illegally.
"We found bullet casings, fired bullets, and live ones as well.
"We believe it was from outside Malaysia," he said.
